Today, many a good deed in our muslim societies is given up in the name of "Bidaa'" or "Innovation." This article attempts to throw light on this issue of Bidaa'.My sincere thanks to our Brother Omer Iqbal , who first enlightened us on this subject with this article of his which I am sharing here.

Lots of Allamas mention the following hadeeth for bidah:

"Every innovation leads astray and every creator of the astray goes in the Fire." [Muslim chapter Al-jumah] But is the above hadith enough to prove every new thing in Islam is Bidah?

There are two kinds of Bidah according to Hadith that will be shown below: One: Bidah Hasana Two: Bidah Sayyiah

Hadith – The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: He who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness) and reward of that also who acted according to it subsequently, without any deduction from their rewards; and he who sets in Islam an evil precedent, there is upon him the burden of that, and the burden of him also who acted upon it subsequently, without any deduction from their burden. (Muslim Book 5, # 2219; Muslim Book 34, # 6466, Nasai – # 2554, Ibn Majah – # 203, 206, 207; Ahmad – V.4 P-358)

As per the above hadeeth , RasoolAllah [sallallahu alaihi wasallam] stated: "The person who introduced a good thing in Islam, shall obtain the reward for it and also the reward for those who adopt it. As for the one who introduces a bad thing (Bid'ah Sayyi ah) he will obtain the punishment for introducing it and also for those who adopt it, will also be punished."

Whoever claims that no Bidah was happened in Islam, please remember the following things that were happened in Islam's history. The collection of Quran in the time of Sayyadana Usman RA The collection of Hadiths in the time of Aimma e Karam (they were not Sahaba) Addition of "Assalat o khairum minan naum" in Fajr Azaan in the time of Umar Farooq RA Continuation of Prayer Taraweeh as Ba Jamat (sunnate mokedah) You have one example where Umar Farooq himself called it Good Bid'ah .

Imam Bukhari writes Umar [May Allah be pleased with Him] ordered that congregational Taravi prayer should be offered together. When the people started this and Umar saw this he said This is a good bid'ah. [Bukhari Kitab-us Taraweeh]

More examples? See below:

Our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] asked Bilal radiAllahu unho "What do you practice that from which you look forward to a lot of reward from Allah Subha Nahu Wata'ala. The reason being I heard your footsteps in Paradise. (junnaah") Bilal radiAllahu unho replied: "Whenever I do Ablution (Wudhu,) after it I always say a Prayer (Nafil Salaah").

["Bukhari, Kitab Tahajud"]Offering Nafil Salah wasnt ordered or done by Prophet, but Bilal RA did it, it was acceptable WHY because he did something good and action that Islam give permission of.

In a Mosque in Quba an Imam used to lead congregation prayers in every rakat (cycle) after reciting Surah Al Fatiha and a verse of the Qur'an he also recited Surah Al Ikhlas as well. When our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] asked him: 'Why do you do this? He replied: 'I love reading Surah Al Ikhlas'. Our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] said: 'This love will take you towards paradise'.[Bukhari Kitab as Salaah]

During the Khilafa of Abu Bakr Siddique RadhiAllahu anahu, Umar RadhiAllahu anhu came to Abu Bakr Radiallaho and said: "In the Battle of Yamama many Hufaad of Qur'an have been Martyred. I fear that if the Hufaad continue to die in such battles the Qur'an could disappear. I recommend that you command for the Qur'an to be collected". Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu replied: "How can I do a thing, which was not a practice of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam") Umar RadhiAllahu anhu replied: "By Allah this is a good thing." Umar RadhiAllahu anhu mentioned this many times to the Khalifa. Later Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu said: "Allah has opened my heart to the fact that this was not an action of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam) but this is a good thing".

Abu Bakr Radiallahu unhu then told Zaid RadhiAllahu anhu to start collecting the Qur'an who questioned the Khalifa by asking: Abu Bakr Radiallaho Why are you doing something which was not an action of (Rasoolallah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam?") Abu Bakr Radiallaho replied: "By Allah this is a very good thing". Zaid RadhiAllahu anhu later said: "Allah Subha Nahu Wata'ala opened my heart to the fact that this was a good thing so I started collecting the Qur'an until it was collected."(Bukhari in Kitaab Fadhaa il-ul-Qur'an).

Abu Hurairah radhiAllahu anhu would do masah (wiping) of his neck during wudhu. Umar radhiAllahu anhu would put water in his eyes and do masah of the ears, Abdullah Ibn Umar radhiAllahu considered it virtuous to walk along the same routes which the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] used in his lifetime also to stop where the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] stopped, and to perform wudhu where (RasoolAllah Sallallahu' alaihi wa sallam) performed it. Abdullah Ibn Umar would also touch with his hands the places where (Rasoolallah Sallallahu'alaihi wa sallam) sat to obtain Baraka (blessings). [Qaydah Jaleelah page 223 by Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyyah]

Punctuation in the Qur'an

Names of Surahs written in the Qur'an

Mihrabs in the MosquesMinarets of Mosques

Taqleed of the four schools of Fiqh

Fixing congregational prayer times with the clock times

National Day of Saudi Arabia

In the Haramian (Makkah and Madina) they celebrate on the 27th of Ramadan "Lai latul qader", it is not establishd in Hadith. Is there any set date for Lai latul Qadar or even to congregate for hours on end? To give the Ka'aba a bath twice in a year is not mentioned in the Qur'an.

Allah ordered us to celebrate and publicize the favor of Allah. Wasn't Birthday of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam a great favor of God upon us?

"And publicize well the favor of your lord" (Sura Al Duha, Verse 11)

Iblis cried loudly four times, first when Allah declared him as cursed, second when he was thrown out, Third When Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) was born and fourth when Surah Fatiha was revealed [Ibn Kathir in Al Bidayah wan Nihayah, Volume 2, Page No. 166]

Muslims rejoice on birth of Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) because Allah has told us to rejoice on his bounties and mercies. Also there are many supporters of Iblis who even today cry when meelad day comes and they speak against meelad celebrations.

Allah celebrated the day of Prophets. Did the day didn't mean anything on which Allah Ta'ala sent peace . "The peace is on Him the day when he was born and the day when he will die and the day when he will be raised alive." (Sura Al-Maryam, Verse 15)

"And the same peace on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I would be raised alive." (Sura Al Maryam, Verse 33) "And remind them of the days of the Allah." (Sura Ibrahim, Verse5)

Musa AS ordered his ummah to remember the day when Allah did favor upon you, "And when Musa said it his people remember Allah's favor upon you, when he delivered you from Firawn's people who used to afflict you worstly, and slaughter your sons and let your daughters live and in it there was shown great mercy of your lord." (Sura Ibrahim, Verse 6)

"And remember when your lord proclaimed, if you will be grateful then I shall give you more and if you're thankless then my treatment is severe." (Sura Ibrahim, and Verse 7)

"Then remember the bounties of Allah and wander not in the earth spreading mischief." (Sura Araf, Verse 74)

"Undoubtedly, Allah did a great favor to the Muslims that in them from among themselves sent a messenger who recites unto them His signs and purifies them and teaches them the book and wisdom and necessarily before that they were certainly apparent error. (Sura Ale Imran, Verse 164)

"Say you oly Allah's grace and his mercy, on it therefore let them rejoice. That is better then all their wealth." "And we sent not you but mercy for all worlds." (Sura Al Ambiyaa, Verse 107)

"Oh you who I believe send upon Him blessing and salute Him fully well in abundance. (Sura Al Ahzab, Verse 56)

Hadiths: Sahaba e karam asked Ya Rasool Allah Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam why do you fast on the day Monday, he replied "I took birth and the Quran was revealed upon me in this day." (Mishkat Sharif, Page 179) "

The one who rejoices on the birth day of the Holy Prophet would not be severely punished and it is hopped that a Muslim who celebrate the Milad un Nabi (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him), will not be punished in hell.

Imam Bukhari Rahmatullah Alaih narrates that Abu Lahab would be punished lightly in the hell on Monday.

Because he rejoiced and freed his handmaid indicating by his finger, when the Prophet of Allah Almighty (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him) took birth. So as a reward of happiness on Milad un Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) he would be given water by his finger. (Saheehul Bukhari Vol. 2, Page 764)

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) says, "Whosoever spends one dirham on the birthday (meelad) of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihi wasallam), he will be with me in Jannat." (An Ne'matul Kubra)

Please provide prove from Quran and Hadith that Maulad un Nabi is forbidden in Islam and any Sahaba claimed not to celebrate Prophets Birthday SAW?